Lane splitting/filtering: the legal and commonsense answers

**bosslady** · 20th May 2013, 08:44

I really need to start lane splitting myself, it's just the feeling of claustrophobia that gets me, cars closing in ya etc. I think I might need to get a lesson with an instructor, if I can, to help me. You just can't live/commute in Auckland and not lane split, you just can't!

**Dragon** · 20th May 2013, 08:52

I am happy to split at upto 40km in slow moving traffic ie pukura bay

If the traffic is moving at 60km I stay with it

Any other bikes splitting faster ill move in and let them past, however the last 3 times ive had another bike follow me though pukura bay ive left them behind opps

I refuse to split past on ramps or merging lanes as people don't look and my bike is to quiet/slow/small to get out of the way

I have split past 70-80km traffic at 100km before heading into wellington before the gourge, I wont lane split going up the gourge as again people don't look

However I don't like doing that often but thats my comfort level on the current bike

Just because I can split faster doesnt mean I should, and there has been one instance where I was splitting faster then my skill level and almost went up the back of a Triumph 675

Also some days I wont split at all just to keep my slow riding skills upto scratch

**Voltaire** · 20th May 2013, 10:27

I lane split very cautiously these days, only if the traffic is moving very slow or stopped.
I lived in London in the late 80's early 90's and got quite proficient at lane splitting and lane discipline was better than here, I got knocked off one day on the South Circular by a car coming out of a side street, waved out probably, it was my own fault. BMW fairing saved me from any injury, that and the low speed.
I don't think you could get an instructor as its not legal to lanesplit as far as I know.......
I could never live over the shore and work in the city, used to work on Wairau road and the drive home took me nearly 1 1/2 hours, these days its 30 mins on a good day and an hour on a wet one. Ride carefully.

**swbarnett** · 20th May 2013, 13:05

Originally Posted by Voltaire

...its not legal to lanesplit as far as I know.......

Legal if the traffic is completely stopped or if you stay completely within the lane to the right of the vehicles you're passing.

In practice, don't be a dick and the cops leave you alone no matter where you are.

**Voltaire** · 20th May 2013, 13:45

Originally Posted by swbarnett

Legal if the traffic is completely stopped or if you stay completely within the lane to the right of the vehicles you're passing.

In practice, don't be a dick and the cops leave you alone no matter where you are.

Might have to go with the latter, although I'm sure motorists probably think anyone on a BMW RT lanesplitting is a dick

Is that why guys/gals leave there RH indicator on to give the illusion of overtaking?

**Maha** · 20th May 2013, 14:18

Originally Posted by bosslady

I really need to start lane splitting myself, it's just the feeling of claustrophobia that gets me, cars closing in ya etc. I think I might need to get a lesson with an instructor, if I can, to help me. You just can't live/commute in Auckland and not lane split, you just can't!

Yes you can, go for a ride at 3am

**Gremlin** · 20th May 2013, 15:22

Originally Posted by Voltaire

Is that why guys/gals leave there RH indicator on to give the illusion of overtaking?

Covered the in endless lane splitting thread, but yes. You are overtaking the cars in the same lane. Other methods aren't legal.

**AndyR1** · 20th May 2013, 15:55

Originally Posted by Gremlin

Covered the in endless lane splitting thread, but yes. You are overtaking the cars in the same lane. Other methods aren't legal.

Well, two vehicles driving beside each other in the same lane is not legal even both are motorcycles !
Overtaking with not enough distance in each direction is not legal as well and I guess less than 70cm to the left or right is not enough !
Overtaking on the left side is not legal too.
For overtaking you have to use indicator - well if you are always moving left right left right would be interesting to see 3 flashes before you pass a car. This illusion is nice if you cross any of these lines and you have to !! It's just not allowed - basta!

All in all, even if the police tolerate it here mostly, in the event of a crash you are neither right nor is it a pleasure to be squeezed between cars and trucks.

Normally it's not even allowed if the traffic stops to drive between vehicles. It's called overtaking and if you have 2, 4 or more wheels the rules apply for all of us

**swbarnett** · 20th May 2013, 16:25

Originally Posted by AndyR1

Well, two vehicles driving beside each other in the same lane is not legal even both are motorcycles !

If the lane is wide enough, yes, this is legal. Look it up under lane sharing.

Originally Posted by AndyR1

Overtaking on the left side is not legal too.

This is why to be legal you have to stay to the left of the dividing line.

Originally Posted by AndyR1

Normally it's not even allowed if the traffic stops to drive between vehicles.

I think you'll find that the opposite is true.

Originally Posted by Maha

Yes you can, go for a ride at 3am

I've had to lanesplit even at 3am!

**AndyR1** · 20th May 2013, 17:25

If the lane is wide enough, yes, this is legal. Look it up under lane sharing.

>>> Which lane is wider than 255cm - I know that lane sharing is not allowed in Europe - if it's allowed in NZ regarding the rest of the world, well that would be new to me if it's true !!!

This is why to be legal you have to stay to the left of the dividing line.
>>> Not in the same lane with me - keep distance at least 150cm!

I think you'll find that the opposite is true.

>>> Driving between standing or driving vehicles on motorways is not allowed in Europe for sure - if it's allowed in NZ regarding the rest of the world, well that would be new to me if it's true !!!

>>> Would be nice to know if I kick someone from his bike staying 50cm beside my car which fault it is...

**Ocean1** · 20th May 2013, 18:16

Originally Posted by AndyR1

>>> Would be nice to know if I kick someone from his bike staying 50cm beside my car which fault it is...

Well, if it helps then I can tell you that in my case I'd be blaming you. With the usual punctuation.

**AndyR1** · 20th May 2013, 18:32

Originally Posted by Ocean1

Well, if it helps then I can tell you that in my case I'd be blaming you. With the usual punctuation.

As long as the rules are just a guess from the most here I guess I would be blaming you: driving to close and not keeping the right distance, driving in the same lane, don't using indicator, dangerous driving....oh my oh.

Seems in NZ are different traffic rules than in other western countries! What I wrote above is LAW in Europe so I don't need to discuss about how I would see the case. What about here in NZ? Everything is different? Tell me...

**sketch** · 20th May 2013, 18:39

Originally Posted by bosslady

I really need to start lane splitting myself, it's just the feeling of claustrophobia that gets me, cars closing in ya etc. I think I might need to get a lesson with an instructor, if I can, to help me. You just can't live/commute in Auckland and not lane split, you just can't!

its not as spooky once you start, unless you muff your light change then bang your just instant no mans land, or no ladies land in your case